NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective disc.

ADDITION: Imprint 4K UHD (November 2025): Imprint have transferred John Hough's Twins Of Evil to Blu-ray and 4K UHD. We compared the Carlton (PAL), Network (PAL) DVDS and the Synapse Films Blu-ray back in 2012 HERE. This new set offers a Dolby Vision 2160P ultra-high-definition presentation of a NEW 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative by Imprint Films. Colors have advanced from the deep reds of blood and velvet gowns to the muted earth tones of the Puritan village, with improved contrast and dynamic range that make nighttime scenes more immersive and less obscured by crush in the blacks. Compared to earlier Blu-ray editions, this 4K version offers superior sharpness in facial details, color balance, such as Peter Cushing's gaunt expressions and the twins' subtle differences, alongside enhanced highlights in candlelight and fire effects that add to the atmospheric dread. Cinematographer Dick Bush (Crimes of Passion, The Philadelphia Experiment, The Legacy, Sorcerer, Phase IV, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula A.D. 1972, The Blood on Satan's Claw, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth) captures lush, shadowy visuals, using fog, matte paintings, and point-of-view shots (e.g., Anton's blurred focus on Frieda) to enhance dread and eroticism, while budgetary constraints lead to clever tricks like duplicated sets for mirror scenes. Overall, the 2160P upgrade transforms the film into a visually pleasing experience that honors its 1970s origins while appealing to modern high-definition enthusiasts, making it look better than ever on home video.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: We have added 64 more large resolution 4K UHD captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray and 4K UHD, Imprint use a linear PCM dual-mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The audio track on this Imprint 4K UHD release faithfully reproducing the original soundtrack with clear dialogue, robust sound effects, and Hammer go-to composer Harry Robinson's (Jane and the Lost City, The Vampire Lovers, Countess Dracula, Demons of the Mind, The Oblong Box) evocative score that blends jaunty melodies with sinister undertones to heighten the film's tension. This mono mix ensures that key elements like the crackling of witch-burning flames, the echoing footsteps in Karnstein's castle, and the dramatic orchestral swells during vampire attacks come through with balanced fidelity, free from distortion or muddiness even in busier scenes. An isolated music and effects score audio track is also included on both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs, allowing viewers to appreciate Robinson's compositions in pure form without dialogue, showcasing the haunting choral elements and percussion that underscore the themes of duality and decadence. The track comes across authentically flat. Imprint offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray and 4K UHD.

The extras on this Imprint release begin with two audio commentaries on both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs, one featuring film critics Kim Newman (Something More Than Night) and Stephen Jones (author of The Art Of Horror Movies: An Illustrated History,) from 2021 who delve into the film's production history and thematic depth with engaging anecdotes. Another commentary comes from film historians Jonathan Rigby (Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema) and Kevin Lyons (editor of The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television,) also from 2021, offering insights into Hammer's Karnstein Trilogy and the cultural context of 1970s horror. A brand new documentary titled Bloodlines: Inside Twins of Evil from 2025 runs for 20 minutes and explores the film's legacy with fresh interviews and behind-the-scenes details. The Flesh and The Fury: X-posing Twins of Evil is the director's cut of a feature-length documentary from 2021 lasting 1.5 hours that provides an in-depth look at the making of the film including cast reflections and archival footage. Satanic Decadence & The Legacy of Sheridan Le Fanu in Hammer’s Twins of Evil is a video essay by Kat Ellinger (Daughters of Darkness  - Devil's Advocates) from 2021 running 20 minutes that analyzes the literary influences and erotic elements. The Props That Hammer Built: The Kinsey Collection is a featurette lasting 23 minutes - found on the older Synapse Blu-ray -  showcasing authentic props from the Hammer era. An interview with director John Hough (Sudden Terror, The Incubus, The Legend of Hell House) conducted by Hammer historian Marcus Hearn (The Hammer Story: Revised and Expanded Edition) runs 20 minutes discussing his approach to the gothic style. An extensive interview with actor Damien Thomas lasts 50 minutes covering his role as Count Karnstein and experiences on set. A Super-8 version of the film is included running 10 minutes as a condensed vintage home movie edition. A deleted scene is presented lasting just over 1 minute revealing a song by two gals. Theatrical trailers include the original one with a double feature trailer with Hands of the Ripper. TV spots just over a minute promoting the film's release. A motion stills gallery runs 1/4 hour featuring promotional images and artwork. A previously-mentioned isolated music and effects score audio track is available on both discs for focused listening. The package is completed with an exclusive 60-page hardcover booklet containing over 100 photographs and a reprint of the original 1971 press kit offering historical context and visual memorabilia.

John Hough's Twins Of Evil stands as the third and final installment in Hammer Film Productions' Karnstein Trilogy, a series of vampire horror films loosely inspired by Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 novella Carmilla. Directed by John Hough in his Hammer debut, the film was produced on a modest budget of around $500,000 and marked a transitional phase for the studio, which was adapting its classic Gothic horror formula to the more explicit demands of 1970s cinema by incorporating increased gore, nudity, and moral ambiguity. Unlike its predecessors - The Vampire Lovers (1970) and Lust for a Vampire (1971) -Twins of Evil shifts focus from overt lesbian vampire themes to a broader critique of puritanical hypocrisy, blending witch-hunt hysteria with vampirism in a 19th-century Austrian village setting. The film exemplifies Hammer's late-period style, balancing atmospheric dread with exploitation elements, and has since garnered cult status for its subversion of traditional good-versus-evil tropes. The film's character dynamics hinge on duality - not just the twins but the opposing forces of repression and liberation. Peter Cushing's (Sherlock Holmes, Island of Terror, Corruption, The Flesh and the Fiends, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell, The Devil's Men, The Evil of Frankenstein, The Blood Beast Terror, Captain Clegg, The Beast Must Die, Night of the Big Heat, The Abominable Snowman, The Land That Time Forgot, Suspect, The Skull, The Mummy, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., The Curse of Frankenstein, The Uncanny, The Revenge of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula, Corruption, The Satanic Rites of Dracula, The Hound of the Baskervilles, I, Monster, Dr Terror's House of Horrors, Horror Express, The House That Dripped Blood, Frankenstein Created Woman, The Brides of Dracula, The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, Doctor Who And The Daleks, The Vampire Lovers) Gustav Weil is a standout: a gaunt, zealous witch-hunter whose piety masks bloodthirsty fanaticism, deriving a subtle carnal thrill from persecuting women deemed "deviant." Cushing, grieving the recent death of his wife during production, delivers a chilling performance laced with vulnerability, humanizing the character through moments of self-doubt and a near-redemptive arc when evil invades his home. His portrayal elevates Gustav beyond caricature, making him a complex antagonist who embodies religious hypocrisy. Dennis Price (The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein, Theater of Blood, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein, Pulp, Tower of Evil, Vampyros Lesbos, The Horror of Frankenstein, 1965's Ten Little Indians, A High Wind in Jamaica, The Earth Dies Screaming,) a distinguished British actor renowned for his performance in Kind Hearts and Coronets, played Dietrich, a sycophantic and lecherous member of the fanatical Brotherhood. The Collinson twins, former Playboy Playmates making their acting debut, bring authenticity to Maria and Frieda through their real-life sibling chemistry - Mary as the sweet, compliant Maria, and Madeleine as the forceful, seductive Frieda. Their Maltese accents were dubbed, a common Hammer practice, but their physical presence and mischievous expressions (particularly Madeleine's gleeful grin as vampire Frieda) add depth to their roles. At its core, Twins of Evil subverts Hammer's traditional moral certainty by blurring the boundaries between good and evil, portraying both Gustav's puritanical zeal and Karnstein's decadence as destructive forces that victimize innocents. Over time, it has been reevaluated as one of the studio's stronger 1970s outputs, outshining Lust for a Vampire and standing alongside Vampire Circus for its thematic depth and innovation. It remains a cult favorite for horror enthusiasts, embodying Hammer's blend of sensuality and terror and Imprint's 4K UHD stands as a must-have for Hammer horror aficionados, limited to just 1500 copies and packaged in a premium hardbox that exudes collectible appeal with its striking artwork and sturdy design. For fans nostalgic for classic horror done right, this package delivers fangs for the memories and justifies its premium status as a worthy addition to any collection. This release not only revives a solid meat-and-potatoes sexy vampire flick with strong performances from Cushing (a role he could, figuratively, really sink his teeth into) and Damien Thomas but elevates it through a top-tier 4K restoration that enhances its visual elements, making it thoroughly entertaining. Certainly recommended.

Gary Tooze